Texas Safari: The Fishing Guide to Texas
By Gayne C. Young
Copyright 2011 Gayne C. Young
Smashwords Edition
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Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Texas Waters and Fishing
Chapter 1: Notes on Means and Methods
Sidebar: Fishing with Carrots
Sidebar: It’s Stupid and Illegal
Notes on Boats
Chapter 2: Fresh Water
Major Rivers
Brazos
Canadian
Colorado
Guadalupe
Sidebar: Texas Water Safari
Neches
Nueces
Sidebar: Mosquitoes Suck
Pecos
Sidebar: Hire a Guide
Red
Sidebar: The Caddo Lake Pearl Rush of 1909
Rio Grande
Sabine
San Antonio
Sidebar: Woman Hollering Creek
San Jacinto
Trinity
Sidebar: Remember Kids, Don’t Make Deals with Catfish
Major Lakes
Sidebar: Amistad, Then and Now
Sidebar: Concho Pearl
Sidebar: The Creature from Lake Worth
Chapter 3: Freshwater Species
Black Bass
Largemouth
Sidebar: Budweiser ShareLunker Program
Smallmouth
Spotted
Sidebar: Calling all Fish
Guadalupe
True Bass
White
Yellow
Striped
Sidebar: Yeah, But it was a Mean Snake
Hybrid
Catfish & Bullheads
Blue
Sidebar: The Life and Times of Splash the Catfish
Channel
Flathead
Sidebar: Freshwater Man-Eaters
Black bullhead
Yellow bullhead
Crappie
Black
White
Sidebar: Watching Fish with Nuclear Physicist
Sunfishes
Bluegill
Green Sunfish
Sidebar: Bringing Home the Shell
Longear Sunfish
Redbreast Sunfish
Redear
Warmouth
Sidebar: The Asia Turtle Trade in Texas
Carp & Suckers
Common Carp
Mirrrror Carp
Leather Carp
Bigmouth Buffalo
Smallmouth Buffalo
Sidebar: Progress and Caviar
Gar
Alligator
Longnose
Sidebar: Taxidermy
Shortnose
Spotted
Other Fish
Bowfin
Sidebar: Exotic Fish
Chain Pickerel
Freshwater Drum
Freshwater Red Drum
Rainbow Trout
Sidebar: Gig ‘em (frogs not Aggies)
Rio Grande cichlid (perch)
Tilapia
Blue
Red
Mozambique
Walleye
Chapter 4: Saltwater
Bays and Gulf
Sabine Lake
Sidebar: Gray Moby
Galveston Bay
Sidebar: Ghost Aquarium
Matagorda Bay
Sidebar: From Here to There
San Antonio Bay
Sidebar: Texas Seals
Aransas Bay
Corpus Christi Bay
Sidebar: Forgotten Leviathans
Laguna Madre
Baffin Bay
Gulf of Mexico
Chapter 5: Saltwater Species
Coastal
Bay and close to shore
Atlantic Cutlassfish
Atlantic Spadefish
Sidebar: Fish Stink
Atlantic Stingray
Sidebar: Wallets from the Sea
Bermuda Chub
Bonefish
Bluefish
Catfish
Gafftopsail
Hardhead
Cownose Ray
Sidebar: Burn, Baby Burn
Croaker
Atlantic
Spot
Sidebar: The Eyes Have It
Drum
Red
Black
Florida Pompano
Jacks
Blue Runner
Crevalle
Horse-eye
Ladyfish
Lesser Electric Ray
Pigfish
Pinfish
Seatrout
Sand
Silver
Spotted
Sheepshead
Snook
Southern Flounder
Striped Bass
Tarpon
Whiting
Southern King
Gulf King
Open Water
Barracuda
Bonito
Atlantic
Little Tunny
Sidebar: Whales and Dolphins of Texas
Cobia
Dolphin or Mahi-Mahi, Dorado
Grouper
Gag
Jewfish
Nassau
Rock Hind
Scamp
Warsaw
Sidebar: Only a Phone Call Away
Mackerel
Cero
King
Spanish
Sidebar: Green in the Gills
Marlin
Blue
White
Rainbow Runner
Sailfish
Shark
Atlantic Sharpnose
Blacktip
Bonnethead
Bull
Sidebar: Shark Attack
Great Hammerhead
Lemon
Shortfin Mako
Tiger
Snapper
Dog
Gray
Lane
Mutton
Red
Vermilion
Yellowtail
Swordfish
Trippletail
Tuna
Blackfin
Bluefin
YellowFin
Wahoo
Chapter 6: Clothing and Equipment
Clothing
Footwear
Scales and Measures
Nets and Gaffs
Pliers and Dehookers
Knives
Waterproof Cases & Dry Bags
Binoculars
Angler’s List
Chapter 7: Private Lakes and Resorts
Chapter 8: Organizations
Chapter 9: Manufacturers
Acknowledgements
This is the page no author looks forward to writing. For it is the page where the author thanks many people without trying to offend the few an almost impossible task. Also, it’s not a very exciting page to write.
In an attempt to make this as painless as possible, I have decided to simply shoot out my acknowledgements bullet style with short and to the point affirmations. That said, here we go:
My biggest thanks goes to Karen, my wife. Thank you for everything. I love you.
Thanks to John M. Hardy, Karen Boudreaux, Roy Hamric and Chris Ruggia for putting this labor of love together.
Thanks to Mike Schoby at Gander Mountain for his continued guidance and support.
Thanks to Chuck Wechsler at Sporting Classics and Under Wild Skies for his unwavering mentorship and patience.
Thanks to Doug Howlett at Southern Sporting Journal.
Thanks to John Tarranto and Brian Lynn at Outdoor Life.
Thanks to Richard Sanders at Russell Moccasins and Walden Bork; Jessica Dant at J.L. Powell; Thomas Bouthillier at Strong Case; Jin Laxmidas at TAG Safari; Eddie Stevensen at Remington; Richard Gilligan at Meopta; Reed Berry at TZ Case; Jeff Wemmer at Texas Hunt Co.; Dick Williams at Surefire; Jim Markel at Red Oxx; and Chris Cashbaugh at SOG Knives for your generous support.
Thanks to Neal Coldwell and Jerry Hammack of Neal Coldwell Taxidermy.
Thanks to Garry Wright of Garry Wright Safaris.
Thanks to Maria Ramos and the rest of the staff at the Fredericksburg Public Library.
Thanks to Joel O’Shoney of PakMail Taylor
Thanks to Avery Crowe and the rest of her family.
Thanks to Champe Carter at Champe Jenning’s Jewelry.
Thanks to my fellow members of the Alter Stoltz Society.
A very special thanks to Roger Willoughby at Abercrombie & Fitch for showing me that this could be done.
And thanks to many, many people I’ve failed to list here.
Gayne C. Young
Fredericksburg, Texas, 2008
Introduction
Despite the dry, desert images many outsiders often associate with Texas, the state actually has a wealth of water. By the numbers, Texas has:
•Almost 2 million acres of impounded water¬¬––more than any other state.
•More than 80,000 miles of flowing water.
•More than 3,300 miles of shoreline (including barrier islands).
•2.1 million acres of bay fishing.
•More private lakes and ponds than any other state.
Within this immense watery environment are a host of freshwater and saltwater species unmatched by any other state. Both native and introduced species lure anglers, flyfishers, bowfishers and spearfishers throughout the year in search of food, sport and relaxation. In fact, so many people take to the waters that Texas ranks among the Top 10 in numbers of anglers from outside the state.
According to an American Sportfishing Association report, nearly 3 million people fished Texas waters for more than 41 million total fishing days in 2006 (the latest year for available data). The economic impact is staggering. More than $3 billion in retail sales was generated by people fishing in Texas in 2006. This number is doubled to more than $6 billion when factoring in the ripple effect of gas, lodging, etc.
Fishing is so popular because it’s fun, relatively inexpensive, relaxing and can put food on the table and in the freezer. Another reason for its popularity has to do with access. The state’s abundance of water ensures that good fishing is close to almost everyone, regardless of where they live.
Information on these waters can be found in Chapter 2, which deals with freshwater rivers and lakes, and Chapter 4, which covers saltwater. Profiles of the species that inhabit the state’s waters can be found in Chapters 3 and 5. Other chapters include information on clothing and equipment, private lakes and resorts and organizations formed to promote and protect fishing. Scattered throughout the book are sidebars on history, products, myths and legends. In short, this book is for anyone interested in fishing in Texas, whether a pro or a beginner.
The information was compiled from a variety of sources including archives, print and electronic media, interviews with fishing guides, lodge and marina owners, other writers, scientists, naturalists, and state and federal employees. The compilation of facts and opinions provides readers with an overview of fishing in Texas—past and present. This book is by no means the final word on fishing in Texas, nor should it be construed as such. It has always been and remains up to the individual to check with the correct governing bodies for changes in the law regarding fishing and boating.
Fish on.
Chapter 1
Notes on Means and Methods
There are four basic methods of obtaining fish in Texas: traditional rod and reel, fly fishing, bowfishing and spearfishing. Of these, fishing with some type of rod, be it traditional or fly, is by far the most popular. However, bow fishing and spear fishing continue to grow in popularity. Regardless of the method, all rely on the same basic principal for success; fish must be found before they can be caught or killed. This statement may seem elementary, but as anyone who’s ever fished can explain, this is often easier said than done. A number of factors contribute to where fish live, how they act and how they feed. Some of the more important of these include water clarity, abundance of food and cover, diet, water temperature, barometric pressure and the phase of the moon. Other influencing factors include time of year and the time of spawn. Information on most of these factors can be found in the chapters on freshwater and saltwater fish.
In terms of barometric pressure, most fish are active when there are severe dips and rises in pressure such as before and after a storm. The moon influences fishing in that its gravitational pull effects tides and to a lesser degree, barometric pressure.
The most successful fishermen are the ones who keep track of all of these factors. The easiest way to do so is with a fishing journal or fishing log. Logs can be as detailed as you like but the following basics should be covered:
•Name of the body of water.
•Time of year and date.
•Weather conditions including temperature, wind direction, sky description (cloudy, clear, etc.) and barometer reading.
•Water conditions including clarity and temperature.
•Locations fished.
•Bait used including type, size, color, presentation, as well as the depth fished at.
•Number of fish caught including size and weight, response time and those that got away.
Once fish are located a method of capture and or dispatch must be chosen. There is no shortage of information on any of the four methods of fishing used in Texas. Countless books, magazines, pod casts, Web pages, DVDs and TV shows offer instruction and advice on each area. As this book’s main purpose is to serve as a guidebook mainly for species in Texas and the best locations to fish, only the basics will be covered. For more in-depth guidance refer to the above or visit any local sporting goods stores. Even most super-stores, such as Gander Mountain or Bass Pro Shops, employ a knowledgeable staff more than eager to introduce new comers to the sport of fishing.
Another option, and one that I wholly recommend, is to hire a local fishing guide. A local guide can teach you about the fish in your area, the best way to catch them and the best equipment to use.
In a nutshell, fishing with a rod and reel of any kind involves getting food or something that resembles food in front of a hungry or predatory fish, enticing it to bite, get hooked and then reeling it to the surface. To do this it is important to match the size of the bait, hook, line and rod to the fish you’re trying to catch. While some species may cross over in terms of size and preferred diet, most fishing equipment is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. For example, a basic largemouth bass setup might consist of a 6 to 7- foot rod with matching reel and line rated at between 6 to 10 (or even as high as 15) pound test. While this setup might work on species such as smallmouth bass and catfish, it wouldn’t last very long against a large alligator gar or shark.
Because of personal preferences and the variety of fishing equipment on the market, a “basic setup” could have hundreds if not thousands of variations. Fisherman can choose between traditional rod and reel or fly rod, between a fiberglass or graphite rod. The options continue all the way to the store (which store?) and to the amount of money one wants to spend. While the best advice on equipment comes from experienced fishermen in the area you plan to fish (again, ask a guide), here are some basic standards for the most popular fish in Texas.
Freshwater
Species: Crappie, bluegill, sunfish and like-size saltwater species
Rod:Ultra light spinning action or fly
Reel: Open or closed-face spinning or fly
Line:4-7 pound
Species: Catfish, bullhead, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass and like-size saltwater species
Rod: Medium action spinning or bait casting rod
Reel: Bait casting, open or closed-face spinning or fly (excluding catfish and bullhead)
Line:6-10 pound
Species: Carp, striped bass, and like-size saltwater species
Rod: Medium to heavy action spinning or bait casting rod
Reel: Bait casting, open or closed-face spinning
Line:8-20 pound
Saltwater
Location: From bay to open water (match gear to size of fish being sought)
Rod: Medium to heavy action spinning or bait casting Reel Bait casting open face or spinning
Line: 18-60 pound monofilament or braided line
Location: Open water for big game fish (match gear to size of fish being sought)
Rod: 30-50 pound class standup
Reel: Lever-drag bait casting, open-face or spinning
Line: 100-200 pound monofilament or braided line
Note: These are basics derived from interviews with guides, avid fishermen, game wardens and specialty store personal. Personal preferences may differ greatly from the above. The best advice would be to find what you like and stick with it.
SIDEBAR: Fishing with Carrots
E21’s Carrot Stix LTX represents the latest in cutting edge technology using a newly developed propriety method of integrating Nano level Cellulose Bio-Fibers into our blanks.”
Huh?
In simple terms, the Carrot Stix line of fishing rods from E21 are made from carrot fibers. Yes, those kind of carrots. These fibers give the rods superior strength over graphite rods with less weight. The rods were designed by Ken Whiting, or, as he’s known in the industry, the Wizard of Rods, and the 37th Bassmaster Classic World Champion, Boyd Duckett. The rods are extremely durable and offer superb control. As Duckett said, “If this wasn’t the sweetest rod I’ve every fished with, it wouldn’t have my name on it.”
Carrot Stix rods are not edible.
The next two options for obtaining fish in Texas don’t allow for catch and release. They involve killing the fish outright and those who participate in these sports often compare their mode of fishing with hunting.
Bowfishing involves shooting fish (in Texas waters only nongame from the shore or a boat utilizing modified archery equipment. As with angling and fly gear, personal preference dictates equipment choice but most adhere to the following guidelines.
Compound or recurve bow with at least a 40-pound pull
Heavy fiberglass fishing arrow topped with a barbed fishing point or arrowhead
Reel
50 to 400 pound test game fish line
Buoy or trailing marker
Bowfishing is done during the day with archers wearing polarized glasses to help them see beneath the water’s surface or at night by utilizing bright lights mounted to the bow or boat, or both. Fish are shot with archery gear and then, depending on the size of the fish, either reeled in immediately or left to drag a buoy until it tires and can be landed and dispatched. Bowfishing is more popular in the eastern and southern portion of the state where thousands of pounds of carp and gar are taken annually.
The least popular of the four major methods is possibly the most difficult and is more akin to hunting than fishing. Spearfishing involves divers (usually sans SCUBA tank) searching out fish underwater with a gun that propels a metal spear via either rubber elastic bands or compressed air. Guns are made from fiberglass, plastic, wood or metal and may be 2 feet to 6-feet in length depending on the size of the fish being sought. Much like hunters on land, spear fishers often situate themselves in or around underwater debris or weeds or wear camouflage wetsuits to better ambush or approach their prey. Spearfishing is popular in lakes such as Falcon and Possum Kingdom where water clarity is good and far offshore around oil platforms. Spearfishing in Texas is for nongame species only.
Texas holds a wealth of fish species and an abundance of places to fish for them. Regardless of the method chosen, there is no shortage of fun to be had.
Sidebar: It’s Stupid and Illegal
The following “fishing methods”—a term I use for explanation purposes only¬¬––are not only stupid, but they’re illegal. Still, as Texas Game Wardens will attest, there is no shortage of idiots who continue to try them.
In Texas, it is illegal to obtain fish by:
Explosives ––Throwing dynamite or other explosives on the water’s surface in order to catch fish is about as stupid as it gets.
Poison––Again, not really bright.
Electricity-producing devices––Using electricity in water. I think I saw a cartoon warning me about the dangers of this when I was young.
Snagging––Catching fish with a hook caught anywhere other than the fish’s mouth.
Grabbling or noodling––What would possess someone to blindly shove their hand into a hole looking for fish? Not only that, but people who do this want the fish to bite them so they can pull it out.
Notes on Boats
In Texas, the term “fishing boat” can encompass anything from a kayak to an ocean-going cruiser. Rest assured though, the state of Texas and the Federal Government have a long list of legal requirements for every type of vessel in this extremely varied realm. Boaters should check, and double check, the laws pertaining to the particular craft they own or are considering to own.
Chapter 1
Fresh Water
More than 11,000 named streams and 13 major rivers flow through Texas. Combined, they meander through more than 191,000 miles of Lone Star landscape and feed more than 200 reservoirs. This wealth of water covers almost 7,000 square miles and accounts for more than 7 percent of the United States’ fresh water.
But the water that Texans enjoy today is not the same as that first utilized by the earliest inhabitants of the state. Beginning with the Medina River in 1913, all major rivers in Texas have been dammed. While damming forever changed the flow and course of rivers in Texas it also made access to recreational water, in the form of major lakes and reservoirs, more accessible than ever.
Dammed or not, rivers in Texas still offer plenty of great angling for a number of species. The major Texas rivers are:
Brazos
Near Washington the Brazos is “a narrow, shallow river. Its waters are limpid and trees of a prodigious height take root in its bed, stretching out their lordly branches, bower-like, over the current.”––Unknown early Texas settler.
Legend has it that the Brazos River was first named El Rio de los Brazos de Dios by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado during his exploration of the Llano Estacado when he and his men were close to death from lack of water. Upon seeing the huge watershed, Coronado exclaimed it was “the river of the arms of God” reaching out to save them from certain death. This legend has also been attributed to stranded sailors searching for fresh water along the Gulf Coast and by Spanish miners in San Saba who found the river a savior much in the same way as Coronado.
Legends aside, the Brazos has gone by many names. The river was probably called Tokonohono by Caddo Indians. It was christened Maligne by French explorer René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. In 1716, missionaries along its banks referred to it as la Trinidad. Today, the state’s third largest river is simply known as the Brazos.
While there are three upper forks to the river (Double Mountain, Salt Fork and Clear Fork) the Brazos proper begins in Stonewall County where the Double Mountain and Salt Fork converge. From this point the river flows southward for 840 miles. During this journey it flows through most vegetation regions of the state, making it truly a “trans-state” river.
Historically, the Brazos is important for a number of reasons. It was on the banks of the Brazos, in the small settlement of Washington, that Texas first declared its independence from Mexico. During this time and in the years just prior to the Civil War, the river was an important means of transportation. It was considered “navigable” by larger, commercial boats from the Gulf of Mexico to around Washington, a trip of about 250 miles.
During this height of river commerce, the Brazos was still considered a wild and dangerous place. Settlers feared the alligators that could be found in high numbers from the Gulf to as far upriver as Marlin. Likewise many people feared the large alligator gar or “river sharks” as they were known that could often be seen gulping for air on the water’s surface. Although alligators no longer inhabit as much of the river as they once did, alligator gar can still be seen swimming the river in large numbers, some pushing upwards of 200 or more pounds.
In 1929, control of the Brazos and its basin went to the newly formed Brazos River Authority which still controls the river and most of the lakes fed from it today. Prior to the damming of a large portion of the river, a young writer named John Graves made a solitary canoe trip along a long section of the river in the 1950s. His journey was the basis for the classic Texas book, Goodbye to a River, published in 1960. It has never gone out of print.
Today the Brazos, like most rivers, is an important source of water for power, irrigation and recreation. Major reservoirs on the Brazos include Possum Kingdom, Lake Granbury, Lake Limestone and Allens Creek Reservoir. The Brazos is host to a number of game fish including striper and several species of bass and catfish.
For information on the Brazos River contact:
Brazos River Authority
P.O. Box 7555
Waco, Texas 76714
254-761-3100
www.brazos.org
Canadian
The valleys of the [Canadian] river here are variegated, occasionally firm, but often sandy or wettish and in many places drips or small springs ooze from the sandy bluffs, which form perfect quagmires in the valley.----Josiah Gregg, 1840
The river is about half a mile wide, generally shallow, though in some places belly-deep to the mules, and the water deeply tinged with sedimentary matter.---Lt. J.W. Abert, 1845
Carving a deep gorge throughout much of its 190-mile course across the Texas Panhandle, the Canadian River acts as a dividing line by separating the Llano Estacado and the North Texas High Plains. Portions of the Canadian are extremely hazardous due to the steep canyon walls encompassing it and the numerous beds of quicksand that lie within it and along its shores. For these reasons the river has been difficult to bridge even with modern construction techniques.
The Canadian provided a livelihood for many ancient cultures beginning with the Pueblo and ending hundreds of years later with the Comanche. The later were driven from the area by early Anglos settlers who systematically destroyed the Comanche’s food source—the bison. The void left by this eradication was quickly filled by ranchers and cattle. Even today, cattle ranching, along with oil and gas production, are the predominant businesses of the area.
Today the Canadian is known for its deep, scenic valleys and for Lake Meredith, which sits like an oasis amid the arid Panhandle.
For more information on the Canadian River contact:
Canadian River Municipal Water Authority
P.O. Box 9
Sanford, Texas 79078
806-865-3325
www.crmwa.com
Colorado
The Rio Colorado is incorrectly named “red stream,” for generally during clear weather, which is very common, its water is of a transparent green and clearer than that of the Rhine. Only after protracted rains does it become somewhat muddy.---Viktor Bracht, 1848
The Colorado is the first of the clear water streams. Its still, lipid, blue-green surface appeared very charming, as the ferry-man slowly pulled us over.---Frederick Law Olmsted, 1854
Like many rivers in Texas, the Colorado has gone through many name changes during its recorded history. The river was probably referred to as Kanahatino by Caddo Indians and as Pashohono by other Indian groups. In 1684, Juan Domínguez de Mendoza and Nicolás López called the river San Clemente. Three years later explorer René Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle named the river La Sablonniere, French for sand pit The name Colorado, meaning red in Spanish, probably came about as a cartographical error. In 1690, Alonso De León referred to the neighboring Brazos River as the Colorado River during his explorations. Shortly thereafter, as the theory goes, the names of the two rivers were transposed on Spanish maps. What was the Brazos became the Colorado and vice versa. Because of this error, the Colorado was forever known as a “red stream” despite its relatively clear waters.
Flowing more than 600 miles from its source in Dawson County to the Gulf of Mexico, the Colorado is the largest river wholly in Texas. During its lengthy course, the river flows through a mixture of high to rolling prairie, rocky bluffs, canyons and Gulf prairie regions. The river is one of the most heavily dammed rivers in the state, and it feeds several large reservoirs including Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Johnson Lake and Lake Austin. These “highland lakes” are extremely popular with boaters and anglers alike. The river itself is popular with canoeists, anglers and fly fishers who consider it one of the best rivers to fly fish in the state.
For information on the Colorado River contact:
Upper Colorado River Authority
512 Orient
San Angelo, Texas 76903
325-655-0565
www.ucratx.org
Lower Colorado River Authority
P.O. Box 220
Austin, Texas 78767
800-776-5272
www.lcra.org
Guadalupe
I crossed a large river [Guadalupe] and traveled along the hillside, for there was no room between the river and the rocks than a vara [33 inches] in some parts, and in others a vara and a half, and the river close by, which was deep and had a fast flow of water which was never seen in the world.---Jose Mares, 1787
The Guadalupe was even more beautiful here than below, quick and perfectly transparent.---Frederick Law Olmsted, 1854
The Guadalupe River has been known as such since 1689 when Alonso De León first referred to the greenish clear waters as Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, or Our Lady of Guadalupe. Despite later being labeled San Ybón and San Agustín by explorers and colonists, the name Guadalupe stuck and has remained the river’s moniker for more than 300 years.
The history of human settlement on the Guadalupe is far older with artifacts collected along the river’s shores dating back to the Archaic period. Centuries later, early Anglo explorers made note of several cultures calling the river home, including the Tonkawa, Waco, Lipan Apache and Karankawa indians. Major Anglo settlements along the river began as early as the 1720’s when several Spanish missions were established in the area. These were followed by more permanent and successful settlements in the 1800’s.
Beginning in Kerr County, the Guadalupe River flows 230 miles before entering the Gulf of Mexico at San Antonio Bay. During its course, the river flows through the Hill Country and Coastal Plains vegetation regions.
The Guadalupe is home to a number of summer camps, recreational areas and water parks. It is popular with canoeists, tubing enthusiasts and anglers. The Guadalupe is especially popular with fly fishers who try their hand at Guadalupe bass (the state’s official fish) and stocked trout.
For more information contact:
Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority
933 East Court Street
Seguin, Texas 78155
830-379-5822
Neches
We found the Neches to be quite a river; clayey banks and muddy water.---A.A. Parker, 1836
The Neches River begins in Van Zandt County and flows 416 miles southeast before entering Sabine Lake near the city of Port Arthur. The river flows through the Piney Woods and Gulf Coastal Prairie vegetation areas. Its major reservoirs include Lake Palestine and Lake B.A. Steinhagen.
Artifacts found along the river identify a number of early inhabitants, the oldest being the 12,000-year-old Clovis culture. The Indian population along the river reached its zenith around A.D. 780 with the arrival of the Caddo Indians. This Early Caddoan Period lasted until around 1260, long before the arrival of the first Anglo settlers in the 16th century.
By this time the river was inhabited by members of the Hasinai Indians of the Caddo Confederacy. They referred to the river as Snow River or River of Snows. Decades later, the river was named after the Neches Indians by Alonso De León during his expedition through the region in the 1680’s. Attempts at colonizing the area by the Spanish began years later but none of the attempts were successful for extended periods of time. True settlement of the area by Europeans was accomplished in the 1820’s when settlers from the Southern United States began colonizing the area. This group utilized the river to ship staples such as trade goods, food and cotton to ships in the Gulf via flat bottom barges.
During the early 20th century, the Upper Neches became the site of extensive logging. Runoff from this industry when combined with runoff from the lower region’s extensive rice farming and oil refineries led the river to become increasingly polluted. Today several governmental and private organizations are involved in the river’s cleanup. Despite high levels of pollution, portions of the river are still a haven for anglers seeking catfish and largemouth bass.
For more information about the river contact:
Lower Neches Valley Authority
7850 Eastex Freeway
Beaumont, Texas 77708
409-892-4011
Nueces
We forded it in very little water but its bed shows how furious its current must be at flood.---Nicolás de Lafora, 1767
The Nueces River was the first river in Texas to be given a place of prominence on a European map. It appeared as Río Escondido, or Hidden River, on a map attributed to Diogo Ribeiro in 1527. Despite this early notoriety, the river wasn’t fully explored until the late 1800’s. During the time in between, the river went through many misidentifications and name changes.
In 1685, René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle sailed up the Nueces believing it to be the Mississippi. Four years later in 1689, Alonso De León marched from Coahuila to find La Salle’s settlement and was so taken by the number of pecan trees on the river that he named (or renamed) it Río de las Nueces, or River of Nuts. This name stayed until 1691 when Domingo Terán de los Ríos renamed the river San Diego.
The Nueces River rises in Real and Edward counties and flows south-southwest for 315 miles before entering Nueces Bay near Corpus Christi. During its course, the river runs through mostly Hill Country and Gulf Coastal Prairies vegetation regions. Major impoundments along the river’s watershed are Choke Canyon Reservoir and Lake Corpus Christi. The Nueces River proper is extremely popular with fly fishers after bass and sunfish.
For more information on the river contact:
Nueces River Authority
First State Bank Bldg, Suite 206
200 E. Nopal
P.O. Box 349
Uvalde, Texas 78802-0349
830-278-6810
Sidebar: Mosquitoes Suck
Mosquitoes suck.
Actually only female mosquitoes suck.
They do this because they are hematophagous (Greek for “blood eaters”) and need extra protein to help create and carry eggs. Females extract blood through a long feeding tube with a hollow needle tipped with interlocking mouth parts known as a proboscis. But much like a nurse taking a blood sample, mosquitoes don’t often hit blood on the first attempt. More often than not the female has to saw her proboscis back and forth under the skin in search of a workable pool of blood. Once found, the female will simultaneously suck blood as it also pumps in a type of blood thinner to help the meal flow freely. Most humans are allergic to these thinners and other skeeter drool that cause a reaction in the form of an itchy, raised whelp. Mosquitoes are voracious eaters and often suck two to three times their own weight in blood. That’s tantamount to an average Texan male eating between 400 to 600 pounds of bar-b-que in one sitting—a feat that’s often been attempted in the Lone Star State but never achieved.
More than 80 species of mosquitoes are found in Texas and all of them are fond of people fishing. The best ways to combat their incessant attacks are:
•Wear light-colored pants and long-sleeved shirts.
•Wear mosquito netting over your face in heavily concentrated areas such as marshes and swamps.
•Use commercial insect repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide).
•A fairly new method of avoidance is ThermaCELL’s Mosquito Reellent Appliances. Developed in 2000, these handheld devices utilize a small, butane cartridge to warm a mat thus vaporizing a mosquito repellent. It contains no DEET and yet manages to provide a 15-foot square “mosquito-free zone.”
Pecos
It [the Pecos River] answered well the description given me by others, and was truly a “rolling mass of red mud”---nothing to indicate its presence but a line of high reeds growing upon its banks.---N. Michler, 1849
Beginning on the western slope of the Santa Fe Mountains in New Mexico, the Pecos River flows more than 900 miles before entering into the Rio Grande just above Lake Amistad in Val Verde County on the Texas-Mexico border. In Texas, the river runs through some of the most desolate regions in the state. The only relatively large city along the river’s route is Pecos, which harbors less than 20,000 people.
Despite this desolation, the river was home to some of the oldest cultures in Texas. The earliest known settlers were the Pecos Pueblo Indians who probably settled the area around 800 A.D. The first Anglo to reach the river was Francisco Vazquez de Coronado who explored the area in 1541. Forty-two years later the river was named Rio de las Vacas (River of Cows) by Antonio de Espejo who found the river heavily populated by bison. The River of Cows was later named Rio Salado or Salt River by Gaspar Castano de Sosa who found the water salty to the taste. This name, combined with the river’s harsh environment, curtailed further exploration for many years to come.
Even today the river region is isolated and relatively void of inhabitants. Anglers planning to fish the river’s upper and middle regions should take the appropriate safety measures to insure a safe trip. Those anglers and fly fishers willing to face the hardships of the area are often rewarded with bass, catfish and sunfish.
For more information on the river contact:
Pecos River Compact Commission
P. O. Box 340
Monahans, Texas 79756
432-940-1753
SIDEBAR: Hire a Guide
Hiring a fishing guide is a great idea for several reasons.
1.They can offer instruction on a variety of methods of fishing.
2.They generally have great, if not the latest, gear and equipment.
3.They can help you to catch more fish.
4.They can familiarize you with a new fishing environment such as rivers, lakes and the Gulf.
5.Hiring a guide for a half day or one day of fishing is far less expensive than owning and operating your own boat and fishing equipment.
6.Most guides are certified by the United States Coast Guard, know what they’re doing and do it safely.
7.They often clean and package your catch.
Red
This [Red River] is the most remarkable and decidedly the filthiest river in the world…---Major John Pollard Gaines, 1846
The red man was pressed from this part of the West,
He's likely no more to return
To the banks of Red River where seldom if ever
Their flickering campfires burn.---“Home on the Range,” fourth verse
Flowing for more than 640 miles in Texas, the Red River is the second longest river in the state. From its beginnings in Curry County, New Mexico, the river flows from west to east across the width of the panhandle before becoming the Texas-Oklahoma boundary and then the Texas-Arkansas boundary. During its journey, the river flows through a multitude of vegetation regions, through Palo Duro Canyon, and fills Lake Texoma, the largest reservoir in the state.
The river’s name comes from its red-colored water which is due in part to the large quantity of red-colored soil it carries in times of flood. This coloration has apparently always been the case as all of the European explorers who saw the river labeled it “red.” To the Spanish it was Rojo. The French named it Rouge.
The river was first mentioned historically in 1541 when the Coronado Expedition explored the upper reaches of the river as well as Palo Duro and Tule canyons. Despite this early exploration, the river wasn’t fully explored until three centuries later when Randolph Barnes Marcy mapped the river in 1852.
Perhaps this lengthy period of exploration was due to the river’s hazardous conditions. Early travelers found the Red’s current extremely variable and difficult to predict. An abundance of quicksand along the river also made travel potentially dangerous, if not disastrous. Also of concern was the river’s high mineral and salt content that limited its usefulness in its upper regions.
Today the river is much easier to explore. Anglers fishing the river will find good bass and walleye fishing as well as giant catfish.
For more information on the river contact:
Red River Authority of Texas
P.O. Box 240
Wichita Falls, Texas 76307
940-723-8697
www.rra.dst.tx.us
Rio Grande
The river itself is here a small turbid stream, with water of a muddy red, but in the season of the rains it is swollen to six times its present breadth, and frequently overflows the banks. It is of fordable depth in almost any part: but, from the constantly shifting quicksand and bars, is always difficult, and often dangerous…---George F. Ruxton, 1846
The latter river [Rio Grande] is a wide, deep and muddy stream, and is destitute of timber---grass very scarce.---William Curless, 1858
Forming the Texas-Mexico border along the southern edge of the state, the Rio Grande is the longest river in Texas. Depending on the method of measurement, the river ranges between 889 to 1,248 miles from its entrance into the state near the city of El Paso until it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, the river carves through an extremely varied series of landscapes. In the Big Bend region, the river cuts through desolate canyons of uncompromising beauty, 191 miles of which has been federally designated as the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River. From there the river continues through several more canyons before filling two large reservoirs: Lake Amistad near Del Rio and Lake Falcon near Zapata. Below this, the landscape along the river opens to tropical valleys and irrigated citrus groves until it enters into the Gulf of Mexico.
Historically, the river has gone by many names. The Pueblo Indians referred to it as Posoge or P'Osoge, meaning Big River. In 1540, explorer Hernando de Alvarado called the river Río de Nuestra Señora. In 1568, three stranded British soldiers named it the River of May. In 1581, members of the Agustín Rodríguez expedition called the river Río de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción as well as the Río Guadalquivir. In 1582, an expedition led by Antonio de Espejo referred to the river as both Río del Norte and Río Turbio. But it was Juan de Oñate who, in 1598 upon reaching what would later be El Paso, first referred to the river as Rio Grande, the Big River.
This “Big River” has always been an important source of irrigation for both Texas and Mexico. In Texas, the Rio Grande waters an abundance of crops including cotton, peppers, onions, pecans and citrus fruits. The river is also extremely important to the cattle industry.
Recreation on certain areas of the river proper is rare due to the remoteness of most sections. Anglers who try their luck on the river will find plenty of bass, gar and catfish.
For more information on the river contact:
Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council
311 N. 15th Street
McAllen Texas 78501-4705
956-682-3481
www.rgrwa.org
Sabine
Its valleys here are marshy and low, and show signs of overflow to the height in many places of ten to twelve feet.---Josiah Gregg, 1841
It is a deep muddy stream, and gentle current.---A.A. Parker, 1836
Forming the eastern border of the state, the Sabine River flows 360 miles from its source in Collin and Hunt counties to the Gulf of Mexico. The Sabine has the largest volume of water at its mouth of all the rivers in Texas. The main reason for this is that, unlike other major rivers in Texas, the Sabine lies in an area of abundant rainfall. The average annual rainfall along the river is between 37 to 50 inches per year. This massive flow of water feeds two of the largest reservoirs in the state: Lake Tawakoni and Toledo Bend Reservoir, which impound 927, 440 and 4,477,000 acre-feet of water respectively.
Topography along the river varies from rolling, pine-covered terrain to flat areas of cypress and other hardwoods. In fact, the name Sabine comes from the Spanish word for cypress, Sabinas. These vast forests along the river have been the center of the Texas logging industry since the days of the Republic when downed trees were floated as rafts to waiting ships in Sabine Bay. Cotton and other products were also transported in this manner. Today, logging continues to be an important industry along the river as does oil refining and processing.
Anglers who take to the Sabine will find the fishing excellent for bass and catfish.
For more information on the river contact:
Sabine River Authority
P.O. Box 579
Orange Texas, 77631-0579
409-746-2192
www.sra.dst.tx.us
San Antonio
It [the San Antonio River] flows over a pebbly bed and its waters are remarkably pure and wholesome; such is their transparency that small fish may be seen distinctly at the depth of ten feet.---Francis Moore, 1840
Rising just four miles north of downtown San Antonio, the San Antonio River flows 180 miles before emptying into the Guadalupe River near the town of Tivoli. Although the scene of several battles during the Texas Revolution, the river is most widely known for the San Antonio Riverwalk. This pedestrian river trail, lined with restaurants, shops and hotels, attracts millions of tourists each year to the Alamo City, making it one of the most visited areas in the United States.
The San Antonio River is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful rivers in the state. Its spring-fed waters are gin clear and support a wide variety of fish. Due to its rather short course and the fact that a large portion of the river lies in a busy metropolitan area, portions of the river are not widely fished. Anglers who fish south of the city will find a river teaming with bass, tilapia and catfish. The river is also popular with fly fishers.
For more information on the river contact:
San Antonio River Authority
100 East Guenther Street
San Antonio, Texas 78204
210-227-1373
www.sara-tx.org
San Jacinto
Its [the San Jacinto] water is remarkably clear and wholesome.---Francis Moore, 1840
At just 85 miles in length, the San Jacinto River is one of the shortest rivers in the state. Because the Houston Ship Channel runs through the river’s lower course, the river is also one of the busiest. Commercial shipping traffic moves along the channel as high as 20 miles above the mouth of the river proper, making this section of the river unsafe and potentially hazardous for recreational use. Recreational use is quite popular above this area as well as on Lake Houston, the river’s largest reservoir.
There are two versions of how the San Jacinto River received its name. The first is that the name comes from the Spanish word for hyacinth, which the river may have been choked with upon early exploration. The second version is that the river was “discovered” on St. Hyacinth’s Day, August 17. It’s not known which version is historically correct.
The river is most famous as the sight of the Battle of San Jacinto. It was here on April 21, 1836, that Texas forces led by Sam Houston defeated the Mexican Army under the command of General Antonio López de Santa Anna, thus securing Texas’s independence from Mexico.
Anglers who take to this rather short river will find bass, catfish, warmouth and bluegill.
For more information on the river contact:
San Jacinto River Authority
P.O. Box 329
Conroe, Texas 77305
936-588-1111
www.sjra.net/index.php
Trinity
Along the banks of this stream [the Trinity River] there are numerous springs, bubbling up through the snowy sand, and rippling over the beds of white pebbles, till they pour their cold waters into the ample, clear, and deep pools of the main stream.---William T.G. Weaver, 1860
At 550 miles in length, the Trinity River is the longest river entirely in Texas. It also has more large cities and a greater population within its valley than any other river in the state. Major cities within its basin include Arlington, Garland, Irving, Richardson, Plano and Grand Prairie. Runoff from these areas along with industrial pollution has caused the Trinity to become increasingly polluted. The Texas Department of State Health Services has banned consumption of fish in and around some metropolitan areas.
The Trinity River rises from three principal branches: the East Fork rising in Grayson County, the Elm Fork rising in Montague County and the West Fork rising in Archer County. The river proper forms a mile west of downtown Dallas. Throughout its course, the river forms a number of large reservoirs including Cedar Creek Reservoir and Richland-Chambers Reservoir.
Given its length, high water volume, and the population within its vale, the Trinity was one of the most widely used rivers for transporting goods. As early as 1836, packet boats carried groceries, dry goods, cotton, sugar and cow hides back and forth from the Gulf of Mexico to as high as 50 miles south of Dallas. This shipping of goods fell off during the Civil war and eventually ceased with the completion of the railroads to Dallas in the 1870s.
Today the Trinity is popular with anglers seeking bass and catfish.
For more information on the river contact:
Trinity River Authority of Texas
PO Box 60
Arlington, Texas 76004
817-467-4343
www.trinityra.org
Sidebar: Remember Kids, Don’t Make Deals with Catfish
The legend is one of unrequited love, selfishness and bargains better left unmade.
As the story goes, a young Tonkawan Indian princess named Sirena was deeply in love with a handsome warrior in her tribe. Despite all her hopes, the warrior did not love her, instead seeing her as a foolish girl. After many flirtatious encounters with the warrior failed to change his feelings, Sirena fled to the tranquil banks of Salado Creek where she watched the springs slowly bubble to the surface and the fish swim lazily about the rocks.
After months of rejection, Sirena came to realize that the warrior would never love her no matter how hard she tried. She ran to the banks of the river and wept beneath the full moon. Her heavy tears fell on the creek with a rain-like patter, sending out small ripples on the surface. Hearing the young girl’s pain fall upon his home, a giant catfish swam to Sirena’s side and rose high on his tail. Although he frightened the young girl when he spoke, Sirena listened intently to his offer.
The catfish swore he could make the warrior love her if she would agree to his one request. In exchange for the young man’s love, Sirena had to come to the creek every full moon for one year. On those nights she would take the form of a mermaid, and she and the catfish would spend the evening swimming together in the pale light.* But if human eyes ever fell on her while she was a mermaid, she would remain one for eternity and forever be by the catfish’s side. Blinded by love, Sirena immediately agreed.
The next day, the warrior began his courtship for Sirena and they were soon married. True to her word, every month when the moon was full Sirena snuck out of the village to swim as a mermaid with the giant catfish.
On the night of the twelfth full moon Sirena snuck away from her husband’s side to swim with the catfish for the final time. When the moon reached its highest peak, Sirena snagged her tail on a fish hook partially buried in the rocky bottom. She pulled herself from the water to rest on a rock shelf jutting from the center of a deep pool. As she worked to free the hook, her husband awoke to find his bride missing. Looking for her, he quietly slipped through the woods. As he gazed over the pool, he was astonished to see his wife sitting on a rock in the form of a mermaid.
Sirena looked up to see her husband staring at her in disbelief just as the giant catfish pulled her beneath the surface of the water…forever.
From that sad evening long ago, it is said that Salado Creek has forever flowed with Sirena’s tears.
So remember kids, don’t make deals with catfish.
*The catfish probably requested something else in the original version, but this is a family-friendly fishing guide.
Major Lakes
By definition there is only one “lake” in Texas: Caddo Lake, in East Texas. As a “lake” is a naturally formed body of water (scientifically speaking) the more than 6,700 bodies of freshwater with a surface area of ten acres or more in the state are actually reservoirs, meaning they were man-made.
Caddo Lake’s 26,800 acres is believed to have been formed by an earthquake in 1811 or 1812 or by a major logjam about that same time. Despite the technical terms of lake and reservoir, most large freshwater bodies in the state are colloquially referred to as lakes.
There are 212 major lakes (those with a minimum of 5,000 acre-feet capacity) in Texas and together they constitute more than 97 percent of the state’s reservoir storage. While mainly built for water supply and flood control, these reservoirs offer a multitude of recreational uses. Many were also designed with anglers in mind and contain an abundance of habitat for both game and non-game fish. In addition, there are a number of privately owned lakes in the state that offer good fishing and recreation. A list of private lakes is provided at the end of the book.
The following is a list of the most popular public fishing lakes in Texas.
Lake Abilene
City of Abilene
325-676-6217
Closest city: Abilene
Acreage: 595
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, white crappie
Alan Henry Reservoir
City of Lubbock
3096 Lake Alan Henry Road
Justiceburg, Texas 79330
806-629-4430
Closest city: Lubbock
Acreage: 2,880
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, spotted pass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white crappie
Area guides
Lake Alan Henry Fishing Guide
Mike Stafford
P.O. Box 65175
Lubbock, Texas 79464
806-794-7155
http://lakealanhenryfishing.com
Alvarado Park Lake
104 West College
Alvarado, Texas 76009
817-790-3351
Closest city: Alvarado
Acreage: 437
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, white bass, channel catfish, crappie
Amistad
HCR #3, Box 37
Del Rio, Texas 78840
830-775-2437
Closest city: Del Rio
Acreage: 64,900
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Guadalupe bass, catfish, white bass, striped bass
Area Guides
Herschel Black
315 Fox Drive
Del Rio, Texas 78840
830-775-3639
Lake Amistad Guide Service
P.O. Box 421072
Del Rio, Texas 78842
830-774-3484
Glen McGonagill
205 Jodobo Drive
Del Rio, Texas 7884
830-775-6720
Gene Peil
HCR 3, Box 25J
Del Rio, Texas 78840
830-775-7243
Charlie Rumfield
P.O. Box 421072
Del Rio, Texas 78840
830-774-3484
South Texas Fishing Guides
210-213-2534
www.fishingguidesoftexas.com/stfg
Sidebar: Amistad: Then and Now Or The Decline of the Male Body
My friends and I started going to Lake Amistad near Del Rio right out of college when we were in our early twenties. There were three of us, and we spent mornings spear icing for carp, gar, and tilapia in the crystal blue waters of the lake and our afternoons drinking beer and frying in the semi-tropical sun on the white limestone cliffs above the water. At night, we headed across the border into Ciudad Lacuna, Mexico, for more beer, cheap Mexican food and fun nightlife. After gorging ourselves on all of the above, we’d head back to the lake to sleep on concrete picnic tables until morning when we’d begin the cycle again. This soon became an annual event that took place for half a week every July come rain or shine.
After nearly six years, our bodies began to rebel against sleeping on hard concrete, and we turned to a cheap motel that catered to anglers on the far side of the lake. We stayed there for about three years until we decided to move the party into Mexico, and we made the Hotel San Antonio in Lacuna our official get-away home.
September 11, 2001, ended our jaunts to Mexico. After the terrorists attacks, crossing back and forth into Mexico became too much of a hassle and too time consuming. We decided to move the tradition back to the States. But our lodging wasn’t the only thing that changed over the years. In the 15 years we had been going to the lake, our threesome became a twosome. My friend Joel and I got married, started a family, and incurred the kind of tremendous debt that goes along with such things. Finding the time and the money to go to Amsted became harder and harder each year. Still, not a year went by that we didn’t make it.
Some 18 years later, July still finds Joel and me spear fishing in the lake in the morning, drinking beer and basking in the sun on the cliffs in the afternoon. Nights are spent eating well, drinking a lot of beer and talking about how old we’ve gotten before going to bed early on a nice soft mattress beneath cool air conditioning.
If you ever find yourself on Lake Amistad and find the idea of a concrete picnic table painful, give Allen Maxwell at Laguna Diablo a call. He’ll set you up with in a nice air conditioned cottage complete with soft beds, a kitchenette and plenty of peace and quiet¬¬––just the way us outdoor writers pushing 40 like it.
Laguna Diablo Resort
HCR 1, Box 4RC
Del Rio, Texas 78840
1-866-227-7082 or 830-774-2422
www.lagunadiablo.com
Lake Amon G. Carter
City of Bowie
304 Lindsay
Bowie, Texas 76230
940-872-1114
Closest city: Bowie
Acreage: 1,540
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie
Aquilla Lake
US Army Corps of Engineers
285 CR 3602
Clifton, Texas 76634
254-694-3189
Closest city: Hillsboro
Acreage: 3,020
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, white bass
Area Guides
Texas Guide Fishing Service
Mark Parker - Guide
3300 NE County Road 0092
Corsicana, Texas 75109
903-872-8285
www.fishingguidesoftexas.com/parker
Lake Arlington
City of Arlington
6300 West Arkansas Lane
Arlington, Texas 76016
817-451-6860
Closest city: Arlington
Acreage: 1,939
Predominant Species: Florida largemouth bass, white bass, hybrid striped bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish
Lake Arrowhead
City of Wichita Falls
1300 7th Street
Wichita Falls, Texas 76307
940-761-7477
Closest city: Wichita Falls
Acreage: 14,969
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, white bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, blue catfish, white crappie
Lake Athens
Athens Municipal Water Authority
501 N. Pinkerton
Athens, Texas 75751
Acreage: 1,799
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, redear sunfish
Lake Austin
Lower Colorado River Authority
3700 Lake Austin Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78703
800-776-5272
Closest city: Austin
Acreage: 1,599
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish
Area Guides
Git Bit Guide Service
Mike Hastings
512-773-7401
www.gitbitfishing.com
Texas Hawgs
Bryan Cotter
512-762-0190
www.texashawgs.com
Averhoff Reservoir
Zavala-Dimmit Co. Water Imp. District # 1
PO Drawer 729
Crystal City, Texas 78839
830-374-3703
Closest city: Crystal City
Acreage: 174
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, white crappie
B.A. Steinhagen Lake
US Army Corps of Engineers
Town Bluff Project Office
890 FM 92
Woodville, Texas 75979-9631
409-429-3491
Closest city: Jasper
Acreage: 10,687
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, catfish
Lake Balmorhea
Reeves County WID Number 1
PO Box 185
Balmorhea, Texas 79718
432-375-2238
Closest city: Balmorhea
Acreage: 556
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, channel catfish
Lake Bardwell
US Army Corps of Engineers
Rt. 4, Box 60
Ennis, Texas 75119
972-875-5711
Closest city: Ennis
Acreage: 3,138
Predominant Species: White bass, hybrid striped bass, crappie
Lake Bastrop
Lower Colorado River Authority
3700 Lake Austin Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78703
800-776-5272
Closest city: Bastrop
Acreage: 906
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish
Area Guides
Git Bit Guide Service
Mike Hastings
512-773-7401
www.gitbitfishing.com
Texas Hawgs
Bryan Cotter
512-762-0190
www.texashawgs.com
Baylor Creek Reservoir
City of Childress
Rt 1, Box 283
Childress, Texas 79201
940-937-3684
Closest city: Childress
Acreage: 610
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, white crappie, sunfish
Belton Lake
US Army Corps of Engineers
3740 FM 1670
Belton, Texas 76513
254-939-2461
Closest city: Belton
Acreage: 12,385
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, hybrid striped bass, sunfish, catfish
Area Guides
Wall Hanger Fishing Guide Service
254-394-3716
www.thewallhanger.com/lakes.htm#belton
Benbrook Lake
US Army Corps of Engineers
PO Box 26619
Fort Worth, Texas 76126-0619
817-292-2400
Closest city: Fort Worth
Acreage: 3,635
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, white bass, hybrid striped bass, crappie, blue catfish, channel
Big Creek Reservoir
Delta County Clerk
200 W. Dallas Avenue
Cooper, Texas 75432-1726
903-395-4110
Closest city: Cooper
Acreage: 520
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, white crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish
Lake Bob Sandlin
Titus County Freshwater Supply District
903-572-1844
Closest city: Mount Pleasant
Acreage: 9,004
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, spotted bass, catfish, bluegill, redear Sunfish
Area Guides
Donnie Thomas Guide Service
903-537-4945
www.easttexasangler.com
Bonham City Lake
City of Bonham
301 East 5th Street
Bonham, Texas 75418
903-583-7555
Closest city: Bonham
Acreage: 1,020
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie.
Area Guides
Tinker’s Lake Bonham Guide Service
903-786-6331
http://tinker.net/
Bonham State Park Lake
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
903-583-5022
Closest city: Bonham
Acreage: 65
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill
Brady Creek Reservoir
City of Brady
101 E Main
Brady, Texas 76825-4523
325-597-2152
Closest city: Brady
Acreage: 2,020
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, white crappie
Brandy Branch Reservoir
American Electric Power
2400 FM Road 3251
Hallsville, Texas 75650
Closest city: Hallsville
Acreage: 1,242
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish
Braunig Lake
City Public Service Board of San Antonio
PO Box 1771
San Antonio, Texas 78292
210-353-2158
Closest city: San Antonio
Acreage: 1,350
Predominant Species: Red drum, Largemouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish
Area Guides
Southwest Fishing Charters
Box 421
Adkins, Texas 78101
Jeff Snyder
210-649-2435
www.alamoredfish.com
Lake Bridgeport
Tarrant Regional Water District
PO Box 4508
Fort Worth, Texas 76106-0508
940-683-2349
Closest city: Fort Worth
Acreage: 11,954
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, hybrid bass, crappie, sunfish
Area Guides
Bug-A-Bass Guide Service
Greg Lippincott
817-938-3718
www.bugabass.com
Dave’s Guide Service
David Everitt
817-269-3546
http://davesguideservice.net/
Taylor Made Adventures.
817-781-3613
http://taylormadeadventures.com/
Lake Brownwood
Brown County Water Control and Irrigation District No. 1
PO Box 118
Brownwood, Texas 76804
325-643-2609
Closest city: Brownwood
Acreage: 6,490
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, white bass, hybrid bass, white crappie, freshwater drum, catfish
Lake Bryan
Bryan Texas Utilities
205 E. 28th Street
Bryan, Texas 77803
979-361-0861
Closest city: Bryan
Acreage: 829
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, sunfish
Area Guides
Texas Hawgs
Bryan Cotter
512-762-0190
www.texashawgs.com
Lake Buchanan
Lower Colorado River Authority
3700 Lake Austin Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78703
800-776-5272
Closest city: Burnet
Acreage: 22,333
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, white bass, striped bass, catfish
Area Guides
Clancy's Fishing Guide Service
512-633-6742
www.centraltexasfishing.com
Empty Pockets Guide Service
109 South Chaparral
Burnet, Texas 78611
877-EMT-POCKETS
www.emptypocketsfishing.com
Fisherman's Corner
21910 FM 306
Canyon Lake, Texas 78133-2531
210-213-2534
www.fishingguidesoftexas.com/canyon_lake/index.html
South Texas Fishing Guides
210-213-2534
www.fishingguidesoftexas.com/stfg
Yankee Skipper Charter & Guide Service
Capt. Tom Callahan
830-741-7151
www.fishingguidesoftexas.com/callahan
Buffalo Creek Reservoir
City of Iowa Park
103 E. Cash
Iowa Park, Texas 76367
940-592-2642
Closest city: Wichita Falls
Acreage: 1,576
Predominant Species: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, white crappie
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